5 Top Tips for Choosing the Right Bathroom Tiles

Looking to invest in some new bathroom tiles? Here are five top tips well worth taking to ensure you get the right tiles, at the right price, and perhaps most importantly the right amount to do the job.

Size

Small or mosaic tiles work better in bigger spaces as the grouting and angles created by using smaller tiles create a pattern which can all too easily overwhelm a small bathroom or en suite, turning it from a relaxing and calm space into an intense and imposing one.

In contrast, smaller tiles work well in larger bathrooms, especially when opting to tile a while bathroom, floor to ceiling in classic white tiles; the grout lines in this instance help to break up and dampen the otherwise starkness doing so produces and turn a big bathroom from a potentially intimidating space into a clean yet stylish one.

Colour

Larger bathroom spaces can take a little colour. The lack of wall papers and wall paints and carpets within a larger bathroom can all too easily result in creating a big, sterile and cold look when tiled wall to ceiling, and also featuring floor tiles or vinyl. Hence, save the colourful and mosaic tiles for the family bathroom or larger bathrooms.

Meanwhile, for those aghast at the idea of using colourful tiles, that needn’t mean sticking to an all white bathroom. Rather, there is a wealth of choice when it comes to buying natural coloured and hued tiles out there. These sandy and stony tiles are fantastic at creating a calm, yet warm and earthy vibe within a bathroom and you can explore a wide range of them via London Tile Shop’s collection.

Further, it is worthwhile paying them a visit online as buying directly from a supplier such as the Tile Yard is likely to cost you far less when buying tiles than heading out to a bathroom showroom or store as it cuts out the need to pay a middle man.

Pattern

Patterned tiles like coloured tiles are best reserved for use in bigger bathrooms. Whilst some might be tempted to ‘inject some colour’ into a smaller bathroom or en suite by means of adding a border of patterned tiles or alternating them with plain white or natural tiles, this rarely proves a sensible idea; small bathrooms are full of angles, surfaces and fixtures that already draw the eye and need negotiating and processing; camouflaging or adding to them by means of patterned tiles or literally drawing attention to how close the walls are is only going to over stimulate and overwhelm the senses, and emphasise the lack of space.

That said, this does not mean patterned tiles do not have their place and cannot be put to some fantastic uses in larger family bathrooms, and within homes which feature a sympathetic style throughout. The most traditional and best use, in design terms, patterned tiles can be put to when used within a bathroom though is to opt to keep the walls clean and instead use them to cover the floor.

Whether you opt to incorporate patterned tiles into your bathroom floor or wall design ideas though, there is no question as to where is the best place to find them, and that is via Fired Earth. Many major cities feature a Fire Earth store and showroom. For those living in places which don’t, visit the Fired Earth website.

Whilst not the cheapest place to buy patterned tiles out there, because patterned tiles draw the eye and are used to create features and focal points this is one instance in which it is definitely worth spending a little extra to get a high quality tile featuring a carefully created and expertly finished pattern or design.

Style

Whilst the above are all aspects of styles and also characteristics of different styles, style itself is a broader term and refers more earnestly to the period, design and combination of the above elements as a whole.

Then, you might opt for Edwardian Period style bathroom tiles, which are likely to be green in colour or pattern and will perhaps involve additionally purchasing dado and / or acanthus tiles to finish an Edwardian look. Acanthus tiles being those which feature three dimensional patterning and which are often used alongside a dado tile to create a border.

Of course, styles are not only limited to periods in fashion and interior design; style can also be determined and named for the culture and / or country from which it originates, with Marrakesh and Moroccan encaustic tiles proving these days increasingly popular.

Hence, it is worth exploring your options before deciding on how to tile your bathroom and which tiles to buy. Then, and to do exactly that, a great place to get inspired and view broad spectrum of bathroom tiling triumphs is via the House Beautiful website which currently features a 40 Eye-Catching Bathroom Tile Ideas slide show.

Budget

Finally, and to finish with perhaps the most important tip to make this list: it is really important when buying tiles to set a firm budget, and to keep to it.

Because tiles are most often sold individually and many people choose to mix and match up to three separate tile styles when re-tiling a bathroom, it can be extremely easy to lose sight of just how much you are spending, or fail to take into account that those perfect, bespoke tiles which cost a measly ten quid each can quickly leave you out of pocket when attempting to buy the amount you will need to tile an entire bathroom.

Fortunately, keeping an eye on the cost when shopping for tiles is not as hard as it sounds; to ensure you do not blow your budget, simply ensure to make use of a tile calculator, such as the one featured on the Calculator.net website. This will enable you to accurately work out the amount of tiles you need, enabling you to quickly and easily tot up the cost before setting your heart on something it turns out you cannot afford.

Further, the tile calculator found on Calculator.net also takes into account the fact that tiles come in all shapes and sizes. Thus, it permits users to calculate the amount of tiles needed according to the specific size of those you are looking to buy. Hence, this is one free online tool well worth bookmarking for future use.